"The wife of Christian Garlitz III, Sarah McKenzie, Catholic;
her husband became a loyal son of that church, as are his descendants of
Avilton today."

Editor's note: Many early Garlitzs from the area are found in the
records of the German Reformed and Lutheran Churches. A Henry Garlitz,
probably the father of Christian III, is found in the records of St. Johns
Reformed in Salisbury, PA. Several of Christian III sisters are recorded
as being christened there. Some records have Christian I buried at St.
Ann Cemetary in Avilton, MD., but this could not be correct. The marker
to Pioneer Christian Garlitz refers to Christian III. All three Christians
were considered pioneers in the stories.

About 1836 parish priest of St. Patrick's Church, Cumberland began a
"mission" in the "McKenzie Settlement." It was probably the next year that
Christian Garlitz added a spacious room to his log house at Walnut Hill
known as the "Church-house, which was to serve as a place of worship for
the scattered Catholics of that section.

After Henry Garlitz (son of Christian III) sold the farm and "Church-house",
mass was celebrated in the homes of Samuel and Lee McKenzie, and, in summer,
in two school houses nearby.

In 1871 there were about fifteen Catholic families in the McKenzie settlement;
it was then decided to build a church. Rev. Father Schmidt selected the
site on the road at Walnut Hill, one hundred fifty rods northwest of the
former "Church-house," or Garlitz homestead, where an acre of land for
the purpose was donated by Jeremiah McKenzie and his wife Catherine.

On September 24, 1871, the new church cornerstone was laid. Christian
Garlitz striking "the first lick. The carpenters were James McKenzie and
Ozia Weimer. The building of St. Ann's is said to have cost $2000 in addition
to some labor and materials which were donated. It is a handsome, well
built structure, nestling in a little pine grove at an altitude of 2770
feet. A well-kept cemetery is behind the church.

St. Ann's Church was dedicated Aug. 29, 1874, the occasion for a procession
from Frostburg and mass in the new edifice, witnessed by a large assemblage
from the surrounding country. In 1815 [sic] an addition to the site was
purchased and a commodious hall erected, which serves as a community center
for meetings and entertainments.

Good old Christian Garlitz was killed by the fall of a tree before the
dedication of the new church, in which he took so much interest. Tho an
old man, he insisted upon helping cut some timber near his home; he was
struck on the head and died the same afternoon.

[The preceding article was published in the Mountain Democrat on the
above date and a copy found at the Maryland Historical Society in Filing
Case A.]

From History of St. Stephen and St. Ann Parishes

It is interesting to note that the writer of this history makes the
error of merging the three Christian Garlitzs into one. A common mistake.
Christian III, the Christian Garlitz of St. Ann Parish, was the son of
Henry Garlitz, and the great grandson of the John Garlitz refered to in
the above article.

In the above photo, the house below St. Ann's is the Garlitz Homestead.
The X marks the spot of the "Church House", that is, the location of the
log house of Christian Garlitz III to which he had built the addition for
use as a church.

The home of Samuel McKenzie also served as a church for some years.
This house stood about a half mile south of the present St. Ann's. "Samuel
McKenzie distinguished himself by zealous interset in church affirs. His
unremitting efforts to keep the flame of faith burning in the hearts of
the little mountain flock are remembered and spoken of to this day. ...
For twenty-five years before the church was buildt both Samuel and Leo
McKenzie threw open their doors to the children and taught them catechism.
They were very consientious in the performance of this duty, as their scholars
testify to the present day." From the History of St. Ann's Mission.
1920.